Shorter trip should not inconvenience King Johns Castle
The grey, who usually runs well, but at the same time hasn’t really lived up to what might have been expected of him, has a minimum of 8lbs in hand of his rivals and is a reasonably confident choice.
His latest effort, at Leopardstown, was undoubtedly a career best, although it did come over three miles, as against two miles and one here.
King Johns Castle was beaten a length and a quarter into second behind Mister Top Notch and the form has a solid appearance.
It was a further 11 lengths back to the third and Mister Top Notch has since run the race of his life to finish fourth behind The Listener in the Hennessy at Leopardstown.
The trip is, of course, an obvious concern, but Kings Johns Castle can make light of it against this opposition.
The nap vote falls on Tom Taaffe’s progressive Emotional Melody in the Clonmel Mares Maiden Hurdle.
Like King Johns Castle, she will arrive on the back of a best ever effort last time. That came at Leopardstown when four lengths runner-up behind Siege Of Ennis.
Willie Mullins’ horses are in the form of their lives and his newcomer in the Bumper, Uimhiraceathair, is reportedly more than useful.
The vote, however, goes to Philip Fenton’s ex-winning pointer, Good Time Bob. He made a good start on the racecourse at Gowran Park last month when two and a half lengths second to another Mullins inmate, the Cheltenham-bound Drive On Regardless.
Tawnies, raised 8lbs for winning with plenty in hand at Punchestown, could be the answer to the Lisronagh Novice Handicap Chase.
